No one is born a racist and there are viable reasons that make one racist. The following are three reasons as to why people typically conduct themselves with a racist attitude. United States history examples are given here, however the philosophies of each could be applied to other societal histories. This will further answer what does racism mean?:

Three Reasons

What does racism mean is explained.

1. Inherited Racism:

Definition - Being born into racism

Further Elaboration - Children innocently have their values and beliefs
instilled within them from their parents, friends and culture. Most of the
time, after that, they sleepwalk through life as they grow into adolescence and
eventually adulthood without being objective and examining their values, ideas
and beliefs. They seldom challenge or question that which they were taught from
infancy. This is why in certain areas of the world there will be a dominant
religion or political ideology.

This is not always good because that which they were taught could be
psychologically damaging, because some beliefs and values are toxic and will
cause problems in the area of morality. Racism is a glaring representation of
this.

A historical example of this regarding racism is the ramifications of events
that took place from around 1865 until the present in the U. S.

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Civil War era

The Reconstruction
era

The Jim Crow laws

The Civil Rights
Movement of 1960s

Many whites in the South, prior to the Civil War, depended heavily upon
African slaves to work the plantations for monetary purposes and control. In my
opinion, not all of the southern plantation owners were necessarily racist,
rather they were more of capitalistic opportunists. However, the freeing of the
slaves and the resultant Reconstruction era fomented animosity and viciousness
toward African-Americans in many white communities. Their previous way of
livelihood was obliterated.

The offspring of these former slave owners were groomed from infancy to believe
that white people were superior to black people, etc. Then came the Jim Crow
laws and the many Supreme Court rulings including the Dred Scott decision to
discriminate against African-Americans. Unfortunately,
that has continued and taught unto the present. However, this type of racism has
subsided as a result of integration and through each succeeding generation.

2. Reactionary Racism:

Definition - Ill treatment of one race causes the other to reverse it

Further Elaboration– Black Separatism. Black separatists (not to be confused with black
nationalists) generally think that black people cannot advance in a society
dominated by a white majority. A clear example of this are the movements of:

The Nation of Islam (NOI)

The efforts of Marcus Garvey

The Black Panther Party

The Israelite Church of Jesus Christ

All of these movements believe in black separatism and many feel that
those of Caucasian descent are evil or devils. Many believe that these devils
are incorrigible and cannot be reformed.

These philosophies have originated more from a defensive measure resulting in
the mal-treatment (Jim Crow laws, United States Supreme Court rulings, etc.) of
African-American and their ancestors. According to these black separatist
groups there should be no reconciliation or coexistence with white people.
They, for the most part feel that blacks are superior to whites.

This way of thinking is exceedingly wrong! Because, these groups erroneously
collectivize all white people in the same category as their
ancestral lineage. One should not be blamed or held accountable for what
his or her mother, grandfather, great-grandfather etc. has done.

Societies evolve over time, some toward advancement and some toward
destruction. The United States, although problems still exist, is in a better
moral position in the 21st century as opposed to the 20th
century regarding race relations.

Many feel that institutionalized program such as: affirmative-action, entitlement programs and certain ideas of multiculturalism depict reactionary racism.

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." - Abraham Lincoln